Kegerator Security - Keeping Randoms/Drunks from Stealing my Beer

[KYB]

Cliffs are bolded.

Before I say anything else, I am open to sharing my beer. Not a problem. However, I live with 4 girls and I only know some of their friends. We all randomly have people over and have parties sometimes, and I don't want all my kegs getting drained. I don't have space in my room, so it will be going in the beer pong room. I will have 2 Stouts in it at all times, and another tap or two eventually. About 4/5 people I know don't like dark beer (they're the BMC crowd), so if randoms took some beer, I would think at least half would be wasted upon finding out it wasn't Bud Light.


Now, on to solutions. Could I maybe implement a type of valve in there somewhere to act as like an On/Off switch for beer, but that wouldn't mess anything up being turned on and off many times? Maybe a ball valve for the beer line/s? Would that work? I plan to have a lock on the fridge door and (unrelated) a metal plate to connect the fridge and freezer doors to open as one since I have 2 tall Guinness handles (came with Guinness faucets, got a great deal, cheaper than the typcal chrome stout faucets ).

 

[JoeMama]

They make locks for the taps themselves. This could be the beginnings of a solution.
-Me

 

[Yooper]

It would be easy to pull off the black disconnects (the beer line side) and lock up the fridge.

 

[bad coffee]

it's all about the kegbot. sounds perfect for you.

Main Page - KegbotWiki

 

[JoeMama]

Dude, Kegbot FTW but I think Yoopers solution seems to be the simplest... Damn womens with their logic and all.
-Me

 

[llazy_llama]

Alternatively, a large warning sign, a security camera, and a gun go a long way.

 

[Pez]

I believe THESE would solve your problem.

 

[KYB]

I'm looking for cheap(er) but effective solutions. I see they now have Stout faucet locks, which might work, but they are kind of expensive. The disconnect thing could work, but I would prefer a valve. Wouldn't disconnecting it spill some beer each time?

Would a ball valve work on the beer line/s though? It seems like it should. I'll have to look into the kegbot more, but I feel like it wouldn't be cheap. The girls aren't my problem, only one of them likes Stout, the rest hate it. It's everyone else. Thanks for all the help though!

 

[RICLARK]

so it will be going in the beer pong room.

If there using that good homebrew for this, I suggest a Eskrima Stick because that is wrong.

 

[MoRoToRiUm]

To the original OP's idea, yes. An inline on/off ball valve will work (assuming you do put a lock on fridge, and they don't figure out how to get in and turn them on). Just make sure it is the right size, and you seal the connections well. It could be a source of air getting into your beer, or add tribulation to your beer knocking the CO2 out of solution. Don't get brass ones either.

 

[Jewrican]

i dont know why but i thought i read that those dont work with Perlicks. is that true???

 

[KYB]

I may experiment with some of these ideas and see which works best. Thanks.

If there using that good homebrew for this, I suggest a Eskrima Stick because that is wrong.

No one will be using my homebrew for beer pong, which is one reason why I want to lock it up. It's our back room with a door to outside that I built a table in and put speakers in and is now the beer pong room. I guess with the keggerator it could just be the beer room. I have all my brewing equipment in there atm too.

 

[michelson39]

How about you just take off (unscrew) the tap handles?

People could still get to the beer if they were clever (or had strong fingers) but, if they wanted some that bad, then they deserve it. Seems pretty simple to me...

 

[jpc]

How about you just take off (unscrew) the tap handles?

People could still get to the beer if they were clever (or had strong fingers) but, if they wanted some that bad, then they deserve it. Seems pretty simple to me...

Insufficient IMO. It doesn't take too much to open a tap without a handle... a pair of pliers, perhaps. Either that or buy a tap handle for a couple bucks and back in business...

 

[bmckee56]

Try something like this as a shutoff. It is not brass and it is reasonable in price. Much smaller than a ball valve too.

South Hills Brewing Supply

Salute!

 

[Snuffalupagus]

All you need is to pay me $150,000 a year and I'll watch your beer 24/7 with one of these available at all times:

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Electric fence or perhaps that crazy robot from robocop. You know the one that went bezerk.

Electric fencing all around your keggerator , hard wired into the wall with a keyed on/off switch. That would work.

If you use ball valves, then use gas tape. Works better than teflon.

You could use these, wired to a relay and a keyed electric switch on the outside of the door.
Electric Ball Valve Actuators w/Manual Override

 

[KYB]

How about you just take off (unscrew) the tap handles?

People could still get to the beer if they were clever (or had strong fingers) but, if they wanted some that bad, then they deserve it. Seems pretty simple to me...

I don't want it to be too much of a hassle for me when I want beer is the thing.

Try something like this as a shutoff. It is not brass and it is reasonable in price. Much smaller than a ball valve too.

South Hills Brewing Supply

Salute!

That could work, thanks.

Electric fence or perhaps that crazy robot from robocop. You know the one that went bezerk.

Electric fencing all around your keggerator , hard wired into the wall with a keyed on/off switch. That would work.

If you use ball valves, then use gas tape. Works better than teflon.

You could use these, wired to a relay and a keyed electric switch on the outside of the door.
Electric Ball Valve Actuators w/Manual Override

I may look into something like that later on down the road, thanks.


I may add all the suggestions to the first post for anyone searching the same thing.

 

[michelson39]

Insufficient IMO. It doesn't take too much to open a tap without a handle... a pair of pliers, perhaps. Either that or buy a tap handle for a couple bucks and back in business...

It sounded like these people are just regular BMC folk who just happen to pass by the keggerator. I doubt they would have enough motivation to find some pliers or go to the store for a tap handle.

 

[MSUConrad]

People are idiots. Just turn off the CO2 and they will think it's broken.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

People are idiots.

Yep

Just turn off the CO2 and they will think it's broken.

Built up pressure in the keg continues to push the keg even once the CO2 is off. This will continue til your beer is flat and the keg pressure is about the same as atmospheric pressure: See first half of your post.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

What's wrong with Yooper's solution? It's easily the cheapest one posted.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

What's wrong with Yooper's solution? It's easily the cheapest one posted.

I agree, and if you're opening the fridge to turn on a ball valve, why not just reconnect it?

 

[KYB]

What's wrong with Yooper's solution? It's easily the cheapest one posted.

I will probably do that or an on/off valve. Maybe the first, then the other.

Edit: True. I'll probably just disconnect it. I wasn't sure how easy they were to get on and off, don't have a keg yet. Later on I might do an electronic valve. It would be easier for me to get beer and it would just be kind of cool.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

If it's a little hard to get the connectors on and off, put a little keg lube on the posts.

 

[bendavanza]

You can also have a bowl of sanitizer to dip the ball locks in to prevent them from getting sticky between connections.
Disconnecting the ball locks is my plan for when I go out of town, etc, then just lock the fridge.

 

[Chris_B]

Take a picture of you urinating into a keg. Label it "My Sanitation Procedures are All Natural." Post it directly above the taps.

Should stop all but the most dedicated.

 

[3bals]

I thought everybody used that sanitation method.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

I do what Yoop suggested. Every once in a while I have something on tap that I don't want the monthy poker crowd to destroy, so I just pull the QD off of the liquid post. They're not kegging homebrewers so they have no idea how to put it back on.

 

[RonRock]

I'd think an in line valve would be best. If you remove the coupler you will have a fitting that may leak.

Actually I'm thinking about the Tap Locks myself. But man they are pricey for what they are. I wonder about a bicycle tire lock?